Method and apparatus for capping containers

ABSTRACT

A rotary turret conveys containers through an arcuate path having an inner concave side and an outer convex side. Closures are supplied to a closure dispensing station located over a closure engaging station on the arcuate conveyor path by a line of movement generally in a plane tangential to the arcuate path at the closure engaging station. The closure entering the closure dispensing station is coerced into the position for proper alignment for the initial engagement of the closure by the container entering the closure engaging station. The closure being dispensed moves laterally outwardly toward the outer convex side of the arcuate path as the closure is being withdrawn from the closure dispensing station by the continued arcuate motion of the container, thereby maintaining the proper alignment of the closure to the container.

United States Patent Kinney .5

Dec. 9, 1975 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver [57 ABSTRACT A rotary turret conveys containers through an arcuate path having an inner concave side and an outer convex side. Closures are supplied to a closure dispensing station located over a closure engaging station on the arcuate conveyor path by a line of movement generally in a plane tangential to the arcuate path at the closure engaging station. The closure entering the closure dispensing station is coerced into the position for proper alignment for the initial engagement of the closure by the container entering the closure engaging station. The closure being dispensed moves laterally outwardly toward the outer convex side of the arcunte path as the closure is being withdrawn from the closure dispensing station by the continued arcuate motion of the container, thereby maintaining the proper alignment of the closure to the container.

20 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 1 Of3 3,924,384

US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 2 Of3 3,924,384

FIG. 2

US. Patent 05.91975 Sheet 3 on 3,924,384

FIG. 3

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPPING CONTAINERS This invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying closures to containers. in one aspect it relates to a method and apparatus for capping containers as the containers are being conveyed in an arcuate path.

in the filling of containers with a product to be packaged, it is desirable to have equipment which is simple, compact, and operable at high speeds. Rotary turret conveyors, which rotate about a vertical axis, are advantageous for use in filling machinery because of the compactness provided thereby. However, the use of rotary turrets can pose problems with regard to the applicationof closures to the filled containers, particularly when the container and/or closure is frangible. It is common to feed the closures along a line which is generally tangential to the arcuate path of movement of the containers. However, as the closures and containers have finite diameters, it is obvious that all points on a closure cannot move along lines tangential to the arcuate path of movement of the corresponding points of the container. Moreover, there is a finite time between the initial contact of the leading edges of the container and closure and the uniting of the closure and container. The stresses in the closure and in the container encountered in the conventional capping operation of a rotating turret are frequently sufficient to deform or otherwise damage the closure and/or the container. Specifically, the application of a frangible paper closure to the top of a frangible container must be done carefully in order to avoid deformation of either the closure or the container. if during the application either the container or the closure becomes deformed, the closure will not be properly applied and a damaged package will result. if too much force is put on the filled container while being moved in the turret, it can become out of round and also result in a misfit of the closure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for applying closures to containers on a rotary conveyor. it is an object of the invention to avoid or at least minimize distortion of a container and/or closure as the closure is being applied to the container. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved technique for applying a frangible closure to a frangible container. Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification, the drawings and the appended claims to the invention.

in accordance with the invention the closure dispensing passageway is wider than the closure to permit the necessary lateral motion of the closure, a closure entering the dispensing station is coerced into the position of proper alignment for the initial contact of closure and container, and the closure is permitted to move laterally as it is withdrawn from the dispensing station by the container, to thereby maintain the proper alignment of the closure and container until the uniting thereof is accomplished.

in the drawings, FIG. I is a perspective view ofa container filling apparatus incorporating a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

HO. 2 is a partial plan view, partly in cross section of the filling apparatus of FIG. l, with several containers omitted for simplification of the drawing; and

FIG. 3 is a simplified elevational view, partly in cross section, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, with one of the containers being shown partly in cross section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the container fill ing apparatus 1 is provided with a rotary conveying means 2 which moves the containers 3 in an arcuate path from a container feeding conveyor means 4 through an inactive station to a container filling station 5, then through another inactive station to a capping station 6, and finally through a third inactive station to the filled and capped container removal conveyor means 7. The arcuate path has an outer convex side and inner concave side, and in the illustrated embodiment is a 270 arc of a circle having its center on the vertical axis of rotary conveying means 2. Each container 3 has a circular horizontal cross section and is provided with an annular rolled rim 8 projecting Outwardly and downwardly from the upper end or mouth of the container.

The apparatus l includes a frame structure ll pfClClably having side panels 12 and a top plate [3 formin an enclosure to house various component parts of tht: apparatus. The rotary conveying means 2 comprises turret l4 which is rotatable in a horizontal plane and has two spaced apart discs 15 and to with equall spaced openings or notches 17 extending radially inwardly from the peripheral edges thereof. The discs l5 and 16 are spaced apart vertically whereby a container 3 is received within a respective pair of notches 17 with the edge of the notch 17 in lower disc 16 engaging a lower portion of the container 3 and the edge defining the notch 17 in the upper disc 15 engaging an upper portion of the container 3. The discs 15 and i6 are mounted on a shaft 18 for simultaneous rotation therewith. Shaft 18 in turn is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing arrangement (not shown) and extends downwardly for operable connection with the drive means (not shown). The drive means can be of any suitable type and preferably is a type which will provide sequential indexing movement of the turret l4 in eight equal steps with the turret 14 remaining stationary between each sequential step of movement.

The infeed conveyor means 4 is mounted above the top plate 13 and comprises a frame 19 and a driven endless conveyor belt 21. The containers 3 are serially positioned'on the conveyor belt 21 in an upstanding manner by suitable means (not shown). The conveyor belt 21 is driven by suitable means to move containers 3 therealong to a position adjacent the rotary conveying means 2 wherein the leading container is individually received into a pair of notches 17 when the pair of notches 17 rotates to a position in line with the conveyor belt 2]. Guardrails 22 are secured to supports 23, which are mounted on the top plate 13, and hold the containers 3 in line and prevent the containers from falling off the conveyor belt 21. A support floor 24 is mounted on supports 25 secured to the top plate 13 and is positioned beneath the disc 16 for supporting engagement with the bottom of the containers 3. The floor 24 extends from a point immediately adjacent the infeed conveyor means 4 through filling station 5 and capping station 6 to a point immediately adjacent the container removal conveyor means 7. The floor 24 is positioned just below the upper level of the conveyor belt 2i to provide for smooth movement of a container from the conve or belt 2i onto the floor 24 with the containers 3 all ing on the fioor 24 when moved by the turret l4.

The filling station includes a dispensing head 26 which is adapted to be connected to a source (not shown) of the product to be packaged, such as a source of ice cream or the like. The dispensing head 26 preferably has a dispensing or filling nozzle 27 which is positioncd to discharge downwardly into a container 3 which is in the filling station of the turret 14. The disensing nozzle 27 has a valve (not shown) therein which is connected to means such as an air cylinder 28 which is operable to open and close the valve in a suit- .liliC manner. Preferably, the dispensing head 26 also includes a dumping nozzle 29 which is preferably dircclcd downwardly at a position spaced from the reinnindcr of apparatus 1. The dumping nozzle 29 is similar to the dispensing nozzle 27 and has a valve (not shown) therein which is operabiy connected to an air cylinder 31 for operation thereof.

The filling station 5 includes a lift platform means 32 whiCh is positioned beneath the dispensing nozzle 27 and is adapted to move a container 3 relative to the disensing nozzle 27. The lift means 32 can be actuated by any suitable means, for example by an air operated extendiblc ram mounted in the frame structure 11 to move the lift means 32 and the container 3 thereon vertically up and down. The floor 24 has an opening 33 to ermit the lift platform means 32 to move therethrough with the lift platform preferably being positioned just below the level of the floor 24 when the lift platform is in its down position.

The filling station 5 also includes a chute 34 having a bottom wall and side walls with the chute being secured adjacent to the lift platform means 32. in the event that a container 3 is not positioned beneath the dispensing nozzle 27 when product is being discharged therethrough, the product will fall onto the chute 34 and by gravity will fiow down the chute 34 to a point of discharge. The lift platform 32 can have a U-shaped opening therethrough to permit product which is discharged in the absence of container 3 to flow therethrough onto the chute 34.

The closure feed chute 35 is disposed at an angle to the horizontal whereby closures 36 therein sequentially move downwardly by gravity from a source (not shown) to a position in the closure dispensing station 37 for being placed in engagement with the filled containers. The closure feed chute 35 is positioned with respect to the rotary turret 14 so that the closure dispensing station 37 is immediately above the closure engaging station 6. The general line of movement of a closure 36 through the closure dispensing station 37 is in a plane which extends through said closure engaging station in a direction at least approximately tangential to the arcuate path of container movement. As shown in FIG. 3, the leading upper edge or rim 8 of the container 3, as it moves into the closure engaging station 6, is at a position slightly above the bottom edge 38 of the leading portion of the depending peripheral flange 39 of the closure 36 in the closure dispensing station 37,

whereby further movement of the container 3 causes the closure 36 to move therewith by engagement between the leading edges. Further movement of the turret 14 moves the dispensed closure 6 into engagement with a cylindrical pressing bar 41 which applies downwardly directed force on the closure 36, urging the closure downwardly onto the open end of the container 3. The pressing bar 41 is pivotably mounted on the closure chute 35 by means of lever 42 and pivot pin 43. A stop pin 44 limits the downward movement of pressing bar 41 in the absence of a closure 36 in the closure dispensing station 37. Further movement of the turret 14 brings the closure 36 into engagement with the leading plate 45 of a plow 46. Plate 45 is inclined at a suitable angle to the horizontal, for example about l3, to effect the downward movement of the closure on the ontainer. Plow 46 is mounted in notches of bars 47 ano 48 so that the lower surface of the secondary plate 49 of plow 46 and the lower surfaces of bars 47 and 48 are coplanar to form an extended ramp inclined downwardly at a small angle, e.g. about 2, to the horizontal to complete the seating of the closure 36 on the container 3. The bars 47 and 48 are supported by bars 51 and 52, with bar 51 being supported by the vertical structural support 53 and bar 54, while bar 52 is supported by vertical structural support 55.

in order to permit the necessary lateral motion of the closure 36 in the closure dispensing station 37, the outer wall of inner guide bar 56 and the inner wall of outer guide bar 57 are spaced apart in the closure dispensing station to form a closure passageway having a width at least as great as the sum of the outer diameter ofa closure 36 and the distance the closure must travel laterally outwardly to stay centered on the respective container 3 as the container moves in the areuate path from the point of initial engagement of the closure to the point where the closure is united with the container and is ready to be firmly seated on the container. Floor plates 58 are attached to the bottom of guide bars 56 and 57 to provide support surfaces for the closures 36. A closure coercing means 59 is mounted at the closure dispensing station in order to provide for the proper positioning of a closure 36 in the closure dispensing station 37 for the initial contact of the closure 36 by a container 3. Coercing means 59 comprises a horizontal shaft 60, pivotably mounted in the opposite sides of chute 35, sleeves 61 and 62 mounted on shaft 60 for retation therewith, a lever arm 63 extending upwardly from sleeve 62, a spring 64 having one end attached to the outer end of lever arm 63 and the other end attached to bolt 65 mounted in bar 51, and a closure contacting am 66 extending outwardlyand downwardly from sleeve 61. Arm 66 extends downwardly into the closure passageway in the shape of a bent finger to encounter a closure 36 entering the closure dispensing station 37. The arm 66 is spaced from the closure passageway wall of guide bar 56 by a distance which is in the range of about 60 to about 95, preferably in the range of about to 90, percent of the outer diameter of a closure 36. Thus, when a closure 36 entering the closure dispensing station 37 contacts the arm 66, the closure is moved laterally against guide bar 56 regardless of the attitude of the closure upon contacting arm 66. Arm 66 and guide bar 56 hold the closure 36 in the proper position for the initial contacting of the closure by its respective container. Retention bars 67 extend from guide bars 56 and 57 over the closure passageway to prevent the trailing edge of the closure 36 in the closure dispensing station 37 from raising up during the withdrawal of the closure from the closure dispensing station 37 by the container being capped. The spring 64 resiliently urges the arm 66 downwardly into the closure passageway to encounter a descending closure 36 and to retain the closure 36 in the absence of a container. However, when a container 3 engagesthe closure 36 in the dispensing station 37, the spring 64 permlts the movement ofcioaure 36 to cause the arm 66 to be rotated upwardly until the closure 36 can move thereunder. This permits the closure 36 to move laterally outwardly in the closure dispensing station 37 as well as forwardly, thereby permitting it to conform to the arcuate path of movement of the container being capped, maintaining the alignment of the closure and container and permitting the closure to be applied to the container in a spiral motion. A stop 68 can be utilized to limit the downward movement of arm 66 in the absence of a closure.

Guiderails 70 are secured to vertical support posts which, in turn, are secured to the top plate 13, with the guiderails 70 extending around the periphery of the discs 15 and 16 between the infeed conveyor means 4 and the container removal conveyor means 7 to prevent the containers 3 from moving out of engagement with the notches 17 by centrifugal force.

The apparatus 1 is provided with a container removal conveyor means 7 to remove the filled containers from the turret l4. Conveyor means 7 is mounted above the top plate 13 and below the turret 14, with the upper rim ofdriven conveyor belt 71 being positioned just slightly below the floor 24. As the turret 14 rotates, the filled container will be moved onto the continuously moving conveyor belt 71 which carries the filled container away from the turret 14. The conveyor means 7 has side guiderails 72 positioned on opposite sides thereof to guide the filled containers during removal. The guiderails 72 are secured to upright supports 73 which are secured to the top plate 13.

While the invention has been illustrated in terms of a circular turret, it can be employed with other conveyor systems which move containers through an arcuate path having an inner concave side and an outer convex side, for example, paths having an oval configuration or the configuration of a portion of a parabola or the like. The invention is particularly useful with conveyor systems where the distance from the are center to the vertical axis of the container in the closure engaging station is in the range of about L5 to about 5, and more preferably in the range of about L5 to about 3, times the diameter of the container. While the plow 46 and bars 47 and 48 are the presently preferred devices for firmly seating the engaged closure on the container, other suitable means can be employed. if desired, the bar 41 can be mounted to rotate. Other reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims to the invention.

That which is claimed is:

l. in an apparatus comprising a conveying means for conveying upstanding containers through an arcuate path having an inner concave side and an outer convex side, a chute means for sequentially dispensing individual closures having a depending peripheral flange, said chute means having a closure passageway having first and second opposed walls with a closure dispensing station at the outlet end thereof, means for positioning said chute means with respect to said conveying means so that said closure dispensing station is positioned immediately above a closure engaging station on the arcuate path of said conveying means so that the leading upper edge portion of a container being moved by said conveying means through said closure engaging station engages the bottom segment of the leading portion of the depending peripheral fiange of the closure in said closure dispensing station, with the general line of movement of a closure through said closure dispensing station being in a plane at least approximately tangential to said arcuate path at said closure engaging station, and with said first wall of said passageway being on the concave side of said arcuate path and said second wall of said passageway being on the convex side of said arcuate path, the improvement comprising at least the closure dispensing station of said closure passageway being wider than the width of one of said closures to permit lateral movement of a closure in said closure dispensing station, a closure coercing means, means for resiliently positioning said closure coercing means to extend downwardly into said closure passageway at said closure dispensing station to encounter a closure entering said closure dispensing station and thereby cause the thus encountered closure to be positioned inwardly against said first wall of said passageway for proper alignment for the initial engagement of the thus positioned closure with a container entering said closure engaging station, said means for resiliently positioning said closure coercing means being adapted to permit the engagement of the closure in said closure dispensing station by the container in the closure engaging station to cause the upward movement of said closure coercing means, thereby permitting the lateral movement of the closure outwardly toward said outer convex side of said arcuate path as the closure is being withdrawn from said closure dispensing station by the continued arcuate motion of the respective container, to thereby maintain the alignment of the closure being dispensed with the respective container as said closure being dispensed is united with the respective container.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim I further comprising means for firmly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said closure coercing means is positioned to extend downwardly into said closure passageway at a point which is at a distance from said first wall of said passageway in the range of about to about percent of the diameter of one of said closures.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distance between the center point of said arcuate path and the vertical axis of a container in said closure engaging station is in the range of about 1.5 to about 5 times the horizontal diameter of one of said containers.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the width of said passageway at said closure dispensing station is equal to or slightly greater than the sum of the diameter of one of said closures and the distance the closure must move laterally outwardly to stay centered on the respective container as the container moves in said arcuate path from the point of initial engagement of the closure to the point where the closure is united with the container and is ready to be firmly seated on the container.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said closure coercing means is positioned to extend downwardly into said closure passageway at a point which is at a distance from said first wall of said passageway in the range of about 60 to about percent of the diameter of one of said closures.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the distance between the center point of said arcuate path and the vertical axis of a container in said closure engaging station is in the range of about L5 to about 5 times the horizontal diameter of one of said containers.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further comprising means for firmly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said closure coercing means comprises a base means, means for mounting said base means to be freely rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, a finger element extending outwardly from said base means, and means for resiliently urging the rotation of said base means about said generally horizontal axis to move said finger element downwardly into said closure passageway to cocrce a closure entering said closure dispensing station.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said arcuate path is an arc of a circle.

ll. Apparatus in accordance with claim further comprising means for firmly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.

12. in a method comprising conveying upstanding containers through an arcuate path having an inner concave side and an outer convex side, sequentially dispensing individual closures having a depending peripheral flange at a closure dispensing station immediately above a closure engaging station of said arcuate path by having the leading upper edge portion of a container being moved through said closure engaging station engage the bottom segment of the leading portion of the depending peripheral flange of the closure in said closure dispensing station, with the general line of movement of ,a closure through said closure dispensing station being in a plane at least approximately tangential to said arcuate path at said closure engaging station, the improvement comprising coercing a closure entering said closure dispensing station to cause the thus engaged closure to be positioned for proper alignment for the initial engagement of the closure in said closure dispensing station by the container entering the closure engaging station, and laterally moving the closure outwardly toward said outer convex side of said arcuate path as the closure is being withdrawn from said closure dispensing station by the continued arcuate motion of the respective container, to thereby maintain the alignment of the closure being dispensed with the respective container as said closure being dispensed is united with the respective container.

[3. A method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising firmly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.

[4. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein each of said closures and said containers is frangible, and wherein said step of coercing is accomp ished by resiliently applying laterally directed pressure to a closure entering said closure dispensing station to cause this closure to assume the position for proper alignment for said initial engagement.

15. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the distance between the .center point of said arcuate path and the vertical axis of a container in said closure engaging station is in the range of about 1.5 to about 5 times the horizontal diameter of one of said containers.

16. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the closure being dispensed is moved laterally outwardly to maintain the closure being dispensed centered on the respective container as the container moves in said arcuate path from the point of initial engagement of the closure to the point where the closure is united with the container and is.ready to be firmly seated on the container.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein each of said closures and said containers is frangible, and wherein said step of coercing is accomplished by resiliently applying laterally directed pressure to a clo- I sure entering said closure dispensing station to cause this closure to assume the position for proper alignment for said initial engagement.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising finnly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the distance between the center point of said arcuate path and the vertical axis of a container in said closure engaging station is in the range of about 1.5 to about 5 times the horizontal diameter of one of said containers.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said arcuate path is an arc of a circle.

Q i t O i 

1. In an apparatus comprising a conveying means for conveying upstanding containers through an arcuate path having an inner concave side and an outer convex side, a chute means for sequentially dispensing individual closures having a depending peripheral flange, said chute means having a closure passageway having first and second opposed walls with a closure dispensing station at the outlet end thereof, means for positioning said chute means with respect to said conveying means so that said closure dispensing station is positioned immediately above a closure engaging station on the arcuate path of said conveying means so that the leading upper edge portion of a container being moved by said conveying means through said closure engaging station engages the bottom segment of the leading portion of the depending peripheral flange of the closure in said closure dispensing station, with the general line of movement of a closure through said closure dispensing station being in a plane at least approximately tangential to said arcuate path at said closure engaging station, and with said first wall of said passageway being on the concave side of said arcuate path and said second wall of said passageway being on the convex side of said arcuate path, the improvement comprising at least the closure dispensing station of said closure passageway being wider than the width of one of said closures to permit lateral movement of a closure in said closure dispensing station, a closure coercing means, means for resiliently positioning said closure coercing means to extend downwardly into said closure passageway at said closure dispensing station to encounter a closure entering said closure dispensing station and thereby cause the thus encountered closure to be positioned inwardly against said first wall of said passageway for proper alignment fOr the initial engagement of the thus positioned closure with a container entering said closure engaging station, said means for resiliently positioning said closure coercing means being adapted to permit the engagement of the closure in said closure dispensing station by the container in the closure engaging station to cause the upward movement of said closure coercing means, thereby permitting the lateral movement of the closure outwardly toward said outer convex side of said arcuate path as the closure is being withdrawn from said closure dispensing station by the continued arcuate motion of the respective container, to thereby maintain the alignment of the closure being dispensed with the respective container as said closure being dispensed is united with the respective container.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for firmly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said closure coercing means is positioned to extend downwardly into said closure passageway at a point which is at a distance from said first wall of said passageway in the range of about 70 to about 90 percent of the diameter of one of said closures.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the distance between the center point of said arcuate path and the vertical axis of a container in said closure engaging station is in the range of about 1.5 to about 5 times the horizontal diameter of one of said containers.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the width of said passageway at said closure dispensing station is equal to or slightly greater than the sum of the diameter of one of said closures and the distance the closure must move laterally outwardly to stay centered on the respective container as the container moves in said arcuate path from the point of initial engagement of the closure to the point where the closure is united with the container and is ready to be firmly seated on the container.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said closure coercing means is positioned to extend downwardly into said closure passageway at a point which is at a distance from said first wall of said passageway in the range of about 60 to about 95 percent of the diameter of one of said closures.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the distance between the center point of said arcuate path and the vertical axis of a container in said closure engaging station is in the range of about 1.5 to about 5 times the horizontal diameter of one of said containers.
 8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further comprising means for firmly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.
 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said closure coercing means comprises a base means, means for mounting said base means to be freely rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, a finger element extending outwardly from said base means, and means for resiliently urging the rotation of said base means about said generally horizontal axis to move said finger element downwardly into said closure passageway to coerce a closure entering said closure dispensing station.
 10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said arcuate path is an arc of a circle.
 11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further comprising means for firmly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.
 12. In a method comprising conveying upstanding containers through an arcuate path having an inner concave side and an outer convex side, sequentially dispensing individual closures having a depending peripheral flange at a closure dispensing station immediately above a closure engaging station of said arcuate path by having the leading upper edge portion of a container being moved through said closure engaging station engage the bottom segment of the leading portion of the depending peripheral flange of the closure in said closure dispensing station, with the general line of movement of a closure through said closure dispensing station being in a plane at least approximately tangential to said arcuate path at said closure engaging station, the improvement comprising coercing a closure entering said closure dispensing station to cause the thus engaged closure to be positioned for proper alignment for the initial engagement of the closure in said closure dispensing station by the container entering the closure engaging station, and laterally moving the closure outwardly toward said outer convex side of said arcuate path as the closure is being withdrawn from said closure dispensing station by the continued arcuate motion of the respective container, to thereby maintain the alignment of the closure being dispensed with the respective container as said closure being dispensed is united with the respective container.
 13. A method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising firmly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.
 14. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein each of said closures and said containers is frangible, and wherein said step of coercing is accomplished by resiliently applying laterally directed pressure to a closure entering said closure dispensing station to cause this closure to assume the position for proper alignment for said initial engagement.
 15. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the distance between the center point of said arcuate path and the vertical axis of a container in said closure engaging station is in the range of about 1.5 to about 5 times the horizontal diameter of one of said containers.
 16. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the closure being dispensed is moved laterally outwardly to maintain the closure being dispensed centered on the respective container as the container moves in said arcuate path from the point of initial engagement of the closure to the point where the closure is united with the container and is ready to be firmly seated on the container.
 17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein each of said closures and said containers is frangible, and wherein said step of coercing is accomplished by resiliently applying laterally directed pressure to a closure entering said closure dispensing station to cause this closure to assume the position for proper alignment for said initial engagement.
 18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising firmly seating the thus dispensed closure on the respective container.
 19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein the distance between the center point of said arcuate path and the vertical axis of a container in said closure engaging station is in the range of about 1.5 to about 5 times the horizontal diameter of one of said containers.
 20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said arcuate path is an arc of a circle. 